Georgian Country Home Monatray House: A Unique Retreat Destination
Situated in Co Waterford with stunning views over Youghal Bay, Monatray House offers a one-of-a-kind experience. This historic mansion was once the holiday retreat destination for the North Presentation nuns of Cork. Visitors may wonder, do nuns get to take holidays?
The Benedictine order of nuns website provides a helpful Q&A to address the many queries that women considering a vocation might have. Under the question “Can I take a holiday?” the answer is as follows: “Ordinarily speaking, no. Although there are some days in the year when we try to keep work and commitments to a minimum to allow more time for rest and relaxation, the prayer of the community is unceasing. At certain times, when others may think of as ‘holiday time,’ we are actually busier than ever with the liturgy.”
However, the North Presentation order in Ireland seems to have been more relaxed about their members taking vacations. Monatray House, located on the waterfront of Youghal Bay in Waterford, served as their holiday retreat from 1948 until the 1960s.
Monatray House is not only a magnificent Georgian mansion overlooking the water, but it also offers a variety of vacation activities nearby. The holiday towns of Youghal and Ardmore are both within a ten-minute drive and offer attractions such as the Youghal Eco boardwalk, Regal Cinema, local Heritage Trail, Youghal Golf Club, pitch and putt, a leisure center, and beautiful sandy beaches. Ardmore also offers opportunities for kayaking, fishing, and surfing.
The history of Monatray House is intriguing. Originally built in 1830 as a summer house for Church of Ireland clergy, it later became a small country hotel. The Cork Presentation Sisters acquired the property as a summer house retreat before turning it into a hotel in the late 1960s. Since the late 1980s, it has been a private residence.
The six-bedroom Georgian house sits on 18 acres of coastal land and includes a renovated coach house with two apartments. Currently listed for sale at €1.8m by Sherry FitzGerald Hennessy, Youghal, this property offers a unique opportunity to own a piece of history.
Monatray House has a rich past, with records dating back to the late 18th century. Previously known as Snugboro and owned by the Smyths, an old ascendancy family, it was transformed by Rev Percy Smyth in 1830 into a summer residence and renamed Monatray House. Over the years, it served as a private house, a hotel, and eventually fell into the hands of the North Presentation nuns.
The current owner, a Swiss woman, purchased Monatray House in 1988 and embarked on an eight-year renovation project. The house was transformed with extensive use of wood, giving it a strong Alpine feel. The renovation included rewiring, replumbing, window replacement, installation of central heating, and restoration of original features like the mahogany staircase and wooden window shutters.
The house features a spacious hallway, a stunning dining room that used to be the ballroom during its hotel days, a kitchen with rustic charm, and various other rooms on the ground floor. Upstairs, there are six bedrooms, some with ensuite facilities and breathtaking views over the bay. The original servants’ quarters have been converted into two apartments.
The courtyard includes a two-storey coach house that has been converted into a multi-functional building, offering additional accommodation, treatment rooms, and more. The property also boasts a walled garden, woodlands, lawned areas, and a range of outbuildings, including stables and barns.
Monatray House, with its incredible location and range of facilities, presents a truly unique opportunity. Whether purchased by a private buyer with deep pockets or revived as a boutique hotel, its potential is limitless. Alternatively, in the emerging realm of “wellness,” a spiritual reincarnation for Monatray House cannot be discounted.
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